Phase change inks

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a phase change ink composition comprising an ink carrier and a colorant, said ink being suitable for use in an indirect printing process wherein the ink is jetted from a printhead onto a heated intermediate transfer member and subsequently transferred from the intermediate transfer member to a final recording substrate, wherein: (a) the ink can be jetted from the printhead onto the intermediate transfer member when the ink is maintained at a temperature of about 125° C. or lower; (b) the ink can be jetted without purging from a printer maintained at a standby temperature of about 100° C. or lower; and (c) the ink has a cohesive failure temperature of at least about 56° C.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Copending Application U.S. Ser. No. 11/126,745, filed May 11, 2005,entitled “Method of Purification of Polyalkylene Materials,” filed May11, 2005, with the named inventors San-Ming Yang, Thomas E. Enright, ValMagdalinis, Ahmed Alzamly, Man C. Tam, Carol A. Jennings, Peter M.Kazmaier, and Marko D. Saban, the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference, discloses a method of purifyingpolyalkylene. Also included are microencapsulated Gyricon beads, phasechange ink, and toners comprising the purified polyalkylene.

Copending Application U.S. Serial No. (not yet assigned; Attorney DocketNo. 20041193-US-NP), filed concurrently herewith, entitled “Phase ChangeInks,” with the named inventors Bo Wu, Stephan V. Drappel, Trevor J.Snyder, Donald R. Titterington, Jule W. Thomas, Jr., C. Geoffrey Allen,Harold R. Frame, and Wolfgang G. Wedler, the disclosure of which istotally incorporated herein by reference, discloses a phase change inkcomprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, saidcarrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and (ii) a polyethylene waxhaving an average peak molecular weight of from about 350 to about 730,a polydispersity of from about 1.03 to about 3.0, and an asymmetricalmolecular weight distribution skewed toward the high molecular weightend. Also disclosed is a process which comprises (1) incorporating intoan ink jet printing apparatus a phase change ink comprising (a) acolorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i)a branched triamide and (ii) a polyethylene wax having an average peakmolecular weight of from about 350 to about 730, a polydispersity offrom about 1.03 to about 3.0, and an asymmetrical molecular weightdistribution skewed toward the high molecular weight end; (2) meltingthe ink; and (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in animagewise pattern onto a substrate.

Copending Application U.S. Serial No. (not yet assigned; Attorney DocketNo. 20041194-US-NP), filed concurrently herewith, entitled “Phase ChangeInks,” with the named inventors Bo Wu, Trevor J. Snyder, Stephan V.Drappel, Jule W. Thomas, Jr., Donald R. Titterington, and C. GeoffreyAllen, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein byreference, discloses a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorant and(b) a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) a branchedtriamide and (ii) a polyethylene wax having an average peak molecularweight of from about 350 to about 730 and a polydispersity of from about1.05 to about 3.0. Also disclosed is a process which comprises (1)incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus a phase change inkcomprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, saidcarrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and (ii) a polyethylene waxhaving an average peak molecular weight of from about 350 to about 730and a polydispersity of from about 1.05 to about 3.0; (2) melting theink; and (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in animagewise pattern onto a substrate.

Copending Application U.S. Serial No. (not yet assigned; Attorney DocketNo. 20041266-US-NP), filed concurrently herewith, entitled “Phase ChangeInks,” with the named inventors Bo Wu, Trevor J. Snyder, Jule W. Thomas,Jr., and Patricia Ann Wang, the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference, discloses a phase change inkcomprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, saidcarrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and (ii) a polyethylene waxhaving an average peak molecular weight of from about 350 to about 730and a polydispersity of from about 1.0001 to about 1.500. Also disclosedis a process which comprises (1) incorporating into an ink jet printingapparatus a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phasechange ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and(ii) a polyethylene wax having an average peak molecular weight of fromabout 350 to about 730 and a polydispersity of from about 1.0001 toabout 1.500; (2) melting the ink; and (3) causing droplets of the meltedink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate.

Copending Application U.S. Serial No. (not yet assigned; Attorney DocketNo. 20041582-US-NP), filed concurrently herewith, entitled “ColorantCompounds,” with the named inventors Jeffery H. Banning, Bo Wu, and C.Wayne Jaeger, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein byreference, discloses colorant compounds of the formulae

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, M, A, E, G, J, m, n, and p are as defined therein.

Copending Application U.S. Serial No. (not yet assigned; Attorney DocketNo. 20041582Q-US-NP), filed concurrently herewith, entitled “PhaseChange Inks,” with the named inventors Jeffery H. Banning, Bo Wu, and C.Wayne Jaeger, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein byreference, discloses a phase change ink composition comprising a phasechange ink carrier and a colorant compound of the formula

or mixtures thereof, wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, M, A, E, G, J, m, n, and p areas defined therein.

Copending Application U.S. Serial No. (not yet assigned; Attorney DocketNo. 20041607-US-NP), filed concurrently herewith, entitled “Phase ChangeInks Containing Specific Colorants,” with the named inventors Bo Wu,Trevor J. Snyder, Jeffery H. Banning, and Jule W. Thomas, Jr., thedisclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference,discloses a phase change ink composition comprising (a) a phase changeink carrier comprising (1) an amide; and (2) a polyethylene wax havingan average peak molecular weight of from about 350 to about 730 and apolydispersity of from about 1.0001 to about 1.5; and (b) a colorantcompound of the formula

or mixtures thereof, wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, M, A, E, G, J, m, n, and p areas defined therein.

Copending Application U.S. Serial No. (not yet assigned; Attorney DocketNo. 20051320-US-NP), filed concurrently herewith, entitled “Phase ChangeInks Containing Fischer-Tropsch Waxes,” with the named inventors Bo Wu,Patricia Ann Wang, Trevor J. Snyder, and Jule W. Thomas, Jr., thedisclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference,discloses a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phasechange ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) an amide and (ii) aFischer-Tropsch wax having an average peak molecular weight of fromabout 300 to about 800 and a polydispersity of from about 1.001 to about3. Also disclosed is a process which comprises (1) incorporating into anink jet printing apparatus a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorantand (b) a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) an amideand (ii) a Fischer-Tropsch wax having an average peak molecular weightof from about 300 to about 800 and a polydispersity of from about 1.001to about 3; (2) melting the ink; and (3) causing droplets of the meltedink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate.

BACKGROUND

Disclosed herein are hot melt or phase change inks and methods for theuse thereof. More specifically, disclosed herein are hot melt or phasechange inks particularly suitable for use in phase change ink jetprinting processes with reduced energy requirements. One embodiment isdirected to a phase change ink composition comprising an ink carrier anda colorant, said ink being suitable for use in an indirect printingprocess wherein the ink is jetted from a printhead onto a heatedintermediate transfer member and subsequently transferred from theintermediate transfer member to a final recording substrate, wherein:(a) the ink can be jetted from the printhead onto the intermediatetransfer member when the ink is maintained at a temperature of about125° C. or lower; (b) the ink can be jetted without purging from aprinter maintained at a standby temperature of about 100° C. or lower;and (c) the ink has a cohesive failure temperature of at least about 56°C.

In general, phase change inks (sometimes referred to as “hot melt inks”)are in the solid phase at ambient temperature, but exist in the liquidphase at the elevated operating temperature of an ink jet printingdevice. At the jet operating temperature, droplets of liquid ink areejected from the printing device and, when the ink droplets contact thesurface of the recording substrate, either directly or via anintermediate heated transfer belt or drum, they quickly solidify to forma predetermined pattern of solidified ink drops. Phase change inks havealso been used in other printing technologies, such as gravure printing,as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,879 and German PatentPublications DE 4205636AL and DE 4205713AL, the disclosures of each ofwhich are totally incorporated herein by reference.

Phase change inks for color printing typically comprise a phase changeink carrier composition which is combined with a phase change inkcompatible colorant. In a specific embodiment, a series of colored phasechange inks can be formed by combining ink carrier compositions withcompatible subtractive primary colorants. The subtractive primarycolored phase change inks can comprise four component dyes, namely,cyan, magenta, yellow and black, although the inks are not limited tothese four colors. These subtractive primary colored inks can be formedby using a single dye or a mixture of dyes. For example, magenta can beobtained by using a mixture of Solvent Red Dyes or a composite black canbe obtained by mixing several dyes. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,889,560, 4,889,761,and 5,372,852, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporatedherein by reference, teach that the subtractive primary colorantsemployed can comprise dyes from the classes of Color Index (C.I.)Solvent Dyes, Disperse Dyes, modified Acid and Direct Dyes, and BasicDyes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,022, the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference, discloses the use of a specific classof polymeric dyes in phase change ink compositions.

Phase change inks have also been used for applications such as postalmarking, industrial marking, and labelling.

Phase change inks are desirable for ink jet printers because they remainin a solid phase at room temperature during shipping, long term storage,and the like. In addition, the problems associated with nozzle cloggingas a result of ink evaporation with liquid ink jet inks are largelyeliminated, thereby improving the reliability of the ink jet printing.Further, in phase change ink jet printers wherein the ink droplets areapplied directly onto the final recording substrate (for example, paper,transparency material, and the like), the droplets solidify immediatelyupon contact with the substrate, so that migration of ink along theprinting medium is prevented and dot quality is improved.

Compositions suitable for use as phase change ink carrier compositionsare known. Some representative examples of references disclosing suchmaterials include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,653,932, 4,390,369, 4,484,948,4,684,956, 4,851,045, 4,889,560, 5,006,170, 5,151,120, 5,372,852,5,496,879, European Patent Publication 0187352, European PatentPublication 0206286, German Patent Publication DE 4205636AL, GermanPatent Publication DE 4205713AL, and PCT Patent Application WO 94/04619,the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein byreference. Suitable carrier materials can include paraffins,microcrystalline waxes, polyethylene waxes, ester waxes, fatty acids andother waxy materials, fatty amide containing materials, sulfonamidematerials, resinous materials made from different natural sources (talloil rosins and rosin esters, for example), and many synthetic resins,oligomers, polymers, and copolymers.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,930 (Wu et al.), the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference, discloses a phase change inkcomposition comprising (a) a colorant and (b) a carrier comprising apolyamide, wherein the polyamide component of the carrier contains atleast about 10 percent by weight of a branched triamide.

U.S. Patent Publication 2005/0130054 (Yuan et al.), the disclosure ofwhich is totally incorporated herein by reference, discloses wax basedinks for phase change/hot melt inkjet printing or thermal transferprinting applications. Also disclosed are waxes useful for toners foruse in electrostatographic printing applications. Both materials areprepared using a wax having a narrow melting range. The narrow meltingrange of the wax reduces energy requirements in printing applications.The use of the waxes also promotes release for high speed printing andespecially promotes fast drying in wax based ink applications.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,904 (Matzinger et al.), the disclosure of which istotally incorporated herein by reference, discloses phase change (hotmelt) ink compositions for use in a phase change (hot melt) ink jetrecording device in which recording is conducted by thermally meltingthe ink at a temperature above ambient temperature (20° C.) to provideprints that possess high quality images, scratch resistance, abrasionresistance, low-temperature storage stability and flexibility, offsetand pick resistance, adhesion, and other desired properties to comprise:(a) from about 0.1% to about 30% of one or more colorants; and (b) fromabout 0.1 to about 99.9% of one or more reversibly-crosslinked-polymers.Components other than those listed above may be included in the inkcompositions to achieve specific printer, substrate, or end userequirements. Furthermore, the invention also includes methods for thepreparation of reversibly-crosslinked-polymers and for their use in theabove-described inks.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,853 (Kremers et al.), the disclosure of which istotally incorporated herein by reference, discloses a meltable ink whichis solid at room temperature, which ink is suitable for use in anindirect printing process, in which printing process the ink istransferred, by the use of an inkjet printhead, to a transfer element,whereafter the ink is transferred to a receiving material under pressurefrom the transfer element, the ink having a composition such that it ispressure-transferable at a temperature between a bottom temperaturelimit and a top temperature limit, wherein the ink has a deformationenergy of less than 20×10⁵ Pa.s at a temperature equal to said toptemperature limit.

While known compositions and processes are suitable for their intendedpurposes, a need remains for improved phase change ink compositions. Inaddition, a need remains for phase change inks that can be jetted attemperatures below about 125° C. Further, a need remains for phasechange inks that can be jetted with reduced energy requirements.Additionally, a need remains for phase change inks that can be jettedwith less expensive printheads. There is also a need for phase changeinks that enable improved thermal stability of the inks manifested asthe color's stability over time when heated in printers. In addition,there is a need for phase change inks that enable improved printerreliability. Further, there is a need for phase change inks that enablequick recovery times from standby mode. Additionally, there is a needfor phase change inks that enable printing with “instant-on” mode. Aneed also remains for phase change inks that exhibit desirable viscosityvalues at reduced printing temperatures. In addition, a need remains forphase change inks that enable the aforementioned advantages and alsoexhibit good printing characteristics, such as transfixing properties(including dither and solid fill dropout performance), acceptablejetting reliability, folding and creasing performance, color intensity,recovery after standby mode, and the like. Further, a need remains forphase change inks that generate images with improved hardness.Additionally, a need remains for phase change inks that generate imageswith improved gloss. There is also a need for phase change inks thatexhibit reduced sweating; sweating is a problem wherein some inkingredients migrate to the surface of solid ink sticks and aggregate atthe ink stick surface inside the printer; the sticky “sweat” graduallydrains down to the bottom and can cause the ink sticks to be difficultto slide in the ink load racks in the printers. In addition, there is aneed for phase change inks that generate images with reduced showthroughwhen printed on paper substrates. Further, there is a need for phasechange inks that exhibit reduced clogging of printheads while exhibitingall of the aforementioned advantages. Additionally, there is a need forphase change inks that enable reduced standby temperatures of phasechange ink jet printheads without leading to clogging of the printheador the need for a purge upon recovery to the operational jettingtemperature. A need also remains for phase change inks with desirablylow freezing points. In addition, a need remains for phase change inksthat transfer efficiently from an intermediate transfer member to afinal recording substrate when the intermediate transfer member is at adesirably high temperature to enable efficient transfer member cooling,which allows for efficient heat transfer and avoids automatic printershutoff or slowdown from overheating of the intermediate transfer memberby the ink, while also enabling jetting of the ink at a desirably lowtemperature. Further, a need remains for phase change inks that exhibitdesirably high smudge temperatures when still-hot prints pass alongguidance tracks in the printer, thereby reducing accumulation of inkalong these guidance tracks that could later be transferred to blankpaper.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a phase change ink composition comprising an inkcarrier and a colorant, said ink being suitable for use in an indirectprinting process wherein the ink is jetted from a printhead onto aheated intermediate transfer member and subsequently transferred fromthe intermediate transfer member to a final recording substrate,wherein: (a) the ink can be jetted from the printhead onto theintermediate transfer member when the ink is maintained at a temperatureof about 125° C. or lower; (b) the ink can be jetted without purgingfrom a printer maintained at a standby temperature of about 100° C. orlower; and (c) the ink has a cohesive failure temperature of at leastabout 56° C.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The Figure is a reproduction of high temperature gel permeationchromatography curves obtained for polyethylene waxes andFischer-Tropsch waxes of different average peak molecular weight values,showing the relative amounts of molecules with different molecularweights present in the sample on the “y” axis and the retention time onthe “x” axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The ink compositions disclosed herein are suitable for jetting in phasechange ink jet printers. Phase change ink jet printing can be performedby direct and indirect printing processes. One embodiment as disclosedherein is directed to a process which comprises incorporating an ink asdisclosed herein into an ink jet printing apparatus, melting the ink,and causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewisepattern onto a recording substrate. A direct printing process is alsodisclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,430, the disclosure ofwhich is totally incorporated herein by reference. In a direct printingprocess, the ink is jetted directly onto a final recording substrate,such as paper, transparency material, or the like. In a specificembodiment, the ink compositions disclosed herein are particularly wellsuited for printing in an offset printing transfer or indirect printingmode, as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,389,958 and5,372,852, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporatedherein by reference. Another embodiment disclosed herein is directed toa process which comprises incorporating an ink as disclosed herein intoan ink jet printing apparatus, melting the ink, causing droplets of themelted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto an intermediatetransfer member, and transferring the ink in the imagewise pattern fromthe intermediate transfer member to a final recording substrate. In aspecific embodiment, the intermediate transfer member is heated to atemperature above that of the final recording sheet and below that ofthe melted ink in the printing apparatus. In another specificembodiment, the intermediate transfer member and the final recordingsubstrate are both heated; in this embodiment, variations are possiblesuch as the intermediate transfer member being heated to a temperatureabove that of the final recording substrate, the intermediate transfermember being heated to a temperature below that of the final recordingsubstrate, and the intermediate transfer member being heated to atemperature substantially equal to that of the final recordingsubstrate. In one specific embodiment, the printing apparatus employs apiezoelectric printing process wherein droplets of the ink are caused tobe ejected in imagewise pattern by oscillations of piezoelectricvibrating elements. Inks as disclosed herein can also be employed inother hot melt printing processes, such as hot melt acoustic ink jetprinting, hot melt thermal ink jet printing, hot melt continuous streamor deflection ink jet printing, and the like. Phase change inks asdisclosed herein can also be used in printing processes other than hotmelt or phase change ink jet printing processes.

Any suitable substrate or recording sheet can be employed, includingplain papers such as XEROX® 4024 papers, XEROX® Image Series papers,Courtland 4024 DP paper, ruled notebook paper, bond paper, silica coatedpapers such as Sharp Company silica coated paper, JuJo paper, HAMMERMILLLASERPRINT® paper, and the like, transparency materials, fabrics,textile products, plastics, polymeric films, inorganic substrates suchas metals and wood, and the like.

The ink compositions disclosed herein can be jetted in phase change inkjet printers at desirably low jetting temperatures. This characteristicenables reduced energy consumption by the ink jet printer, cost savings,improved color stability as a result of the ink being subjected toreduced temperatures over time, improved reliability of the printer as aresult of the printer being operated at lower temperatures, and quickrecovery times of the printer from standby mode.

The inks disclosed herein can be jetted at jetting temperatures of inone embodiment about 125° C. or lower, in another embodiment about 120°C. or lower, in yet another embodiment about 115° C. or lower, and instill another embodiment about 113° C. or lower, although the jettingtemperature can be outside of these ranges.

By “jetted at jetting temperatures of about 125° C. or lower” is meantthat when the ink is in the printer during standard operating mode (asopposed to during warm-up mode), the ink can be jetted with no more thanabout 2 percent failed jets. In specific embodiments the ink can bejetted with no more than about 1 percent failed jets, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 0.5 percent failed jets, and in yetanother embodiment no more than about 0.25 percent failed jets. Forpurposes herein, the test fixture used to determine whether an inkpassed or failed this test is a XEROX® PHASER® 8400 phase change ink jetprinter operated with drop mass and voltage set in the as-shippedconditions for the ink designated by the manufacturer for that printer.The temperature of the ink being jetted from this printer can bemodified by modifying either the hardware or the software of thismachine by one of ordinary skill in the art. The print used to quantifypercent failed jets includes one-half to one inch full width areas ofsolid fill and dithered fills (25%, 50% and 75%) for each color. Percentfailed jets is the number of failed jets per total jets averaged over 10printed pages.

Many solid ink jet printers heat the intermediate transfer member, theink, and the final recording sheet to ensure proper transfer of theimage onto the final recording sheet. An intermediate transfer memberheater typically heats the intermediate transfer member and a separateprinthead heater heats the printhead in which the ink is contained.These heaters consume more power at higher temperatures, and powerconsumption is highest at the operating temperatures. Lowering the powerto the heaters allows the various components to cool off during periodsof inactivity, but that in turn increases the restart time for thesystem as the inks and the intermediate transfer member both need toresume their operating temperatures. In addition, at a specifictemperature—typically close to the temperature at which the ink willsolidify—the printhead may need to be purged to ensure that all of thejets are refilled and ready to print without any negative effects onimage quality.

Environmentally sensitive and marketplace regulations now call foroffice equipment, such as reproduction machines and multi-functiondevices, to be more energy efficient. Such environmental regulations orrequirements for office products are covered in the United States underwhat is currently called the “Energy Star Program”, and under variousother similar programs in Europe and elsewhere. Such similar programsinclude “New Blue Angel” (Germany), “Energy Conservation Law” (Japan),“Nordic Swan” (North Europe), and “Swiss Energy Efficiency Label”(Switzerland). These environmental programs as well as the market(manufacturer/customer) set forth reduced power consumption levelrequirements and requisite times to enter these modes. These reducedpower consumption modes, such as standby, low power, power saver, energysaver, sleep, and the like, vary in power levels and consume less powerthan in “Ready” mode, but greater than when in “Off” mode. When themachine is in a reduced power consumption mode as required to meet theseenvironmental program and/or market requirements, recovery times areincreased. Timely and satisfactory recovery from these significantlyreduced power consumption levels back to the operating temperatures areimportant to a customer, but can be difficult.

The ink compositions disclosed herein can be printed in phase change inkjet printers with desirably low standby temperatures. Standbytemperature is the temperature at which the printer maintains the inkwhile in an “energy saver” mode, and by definition is able to return tothe higher operational temperature without requiring a purge. The inkcan be maintained at lower temperatures if desired to save energy costs,but purging of the printhead would then be required to clear the jets ofsolidified ink. This characteristic is desirable for reasons similar tothose for which low jetting temperatures are desirable. Low standbytemperatures reduce power consumption and reduce ink cooking. They canalso potentially increase reliability and decrease drop mass drift.

The inks disclosed herein can be maintained at standby temperatures ofin one embodiment about 100° C. or lower, in another embodiment about95° C. or lower, and in yet another embodiment about 90° C. or lower,although the standby temperature can be outside of these ranges.

By “jetted without purging from a printer maintained at a standbytemperature of about 100° C. or lower” is meant that the ink can bemaintained in a printer at this temperature for a period of at leastabout 1 week and subsequently jetted at its operational jettingtemperature without any need for purging and with no more than about 2percent failed jets. In specific embodiments the ink can be jetted withno more than about 1 percent failed jets, in another embodiment with nomore than about 0.5 percent failed jets, and in yet another embodimentno more than about 0.25 percent failed jets. For purposes herein, thetest fixture used to determine whether an ink passed or failed this testis a XEROX® PHASER® 8400 phase change ink jet printer operated with dropmass and voltage set in the as-shipped conditions for the ink designatedby the manufacturer for that printer. The standby temperature of the inkbeing jetted from this printer can be modified by modifying either thehardware or the software of this machine by one of ordinary skill in theart. The print used to quantify percent failed jets includes one-half toone inch full width areas of solid fill and dithered fills (25%, 50% and75%) for each color. Percent failed jets is the number of failed jetsper total jets averaged over 10 printed pages. The prints are madeimmediately after recovery from standby and without purging theprinthead.

When employed in indirect printing processes wherein the ink is jettedonto a heated intermediate transfer member, the ink compositionsdisclosed herein can be jetted onto and transferred off intermediatetransfer members maintained at desirably high temperatures. Thischaracteristic can be desirable because increased intermediate transfermember temperature facilitates the needed temperature gradient relativeto ambient in order to transfer sufficient heat such that sustainedprinting can be achieved. More specifically, heat travels only from ahot body to a colder body, and the amount of heat transfer isapproximately proportional to the temperature delta between the two.Therefore, heat transfers faster if the temperature difference islarger. Faster print speeds put more ink on the intermediate transfermember and thus require more intermediate transfer member cooling.Accordingly, if the temperature difference between the intermediatetransfer member and ambient temperature is not sufficiently large, theintermediate transfer member will not cool fast enough to maintain itsoperational temperature. Higher intermediate transfer membertemperatures, therefore, are desirable to enable more rapid cooling ofthe member by exposure to ambient temperature.

When inks are jetted onto intermediate transfer members maintained attemperatures beyond their cohesive failure temperatures, the inks do nottransfer properly from the intermediate transfer member to the finalrecording substrate because the inner cohesive bonds within the inkbecome weaker than the adhesive bond between the ink and theintermediate transfer member. The ink splits apart on the intermediatetransfer member, resulting in only some of the ink transferring to thefinal recording substrate while the remainder is left behind on theintermediate transfer member. Accordingly, while higher intermediatetransfer member temperatures are desirable, heating of the intermediatetransfer member cannot be to a temperature higher than the cohesivefailure temperature of the ink. Typically, the intermediate transfermember can be heated to a temperature at or slightly below the cohesivefailure temperature of the phase change ink, in one specific embodimentfrom about 4 to about 10° C. below the cohesive failure temperature ofthe ink.

The inks disclosed herein have cohesive failure temperatures of in oneembodiment at least about 56° C., in another embodiment at least about60° C., and in yet another embodiment at least about 65° C., althoughthe cohesive failure temperature can be outside of these ranges.

By “cohesive failure temperature of at least about 56° C.” is meant thatthe ink can be maintained at about this temperature when residing on theintermediate transfer member, followed by transferring the ink to afinal substrate, wherein the ink is transferred entirely to the finalsubstrate, as opposed to the ink splitting and some of the ink remainingon the intermediate transfer member. For purposes herein, thetest-fixture used to determine whether an ink passed or failed this testis a XEROX® PHASER® 8400 phase change ink jet printer operated with dropmass and voltage set in the as-shipped conditions for the ink designatedby the manufacturer for that printer and the temperature of the finalrecording substrate set in the as-shipped conditions. The intermediatetransfer member temperature of this printer can be modified by modifyingeither the hardware or the software by one of ordinary skill in the art.The print used to quantify cohesive failure temperature includes oneinch to two inch full width areas of solid fill for each color. At everytested drum temperature, one image is printed followed by a blank sheet.To pass the cohesive failure test, the blank sheet contains no visibleink (other than the possibility of some isolated fragments near theedges of a solid fill that would be attributable to satellites fromjetting). The cohesive failure temperature is the first temperature todisplay visible fractured ink on the blank page.

The ink compositions disclosed herein in one embodiment have peakmelting points of no lower than about 50° C., in another embodiment ofno lower than about 60° C., and in yet another embodiment of no lowerthan about 70° C., and have peak melting points in one embodiment of nohigher than about 160° C., in another embodiment of no higher than about140° C., and in yet another embodiment of no higher than about 100° C.,although the peak melting point can be outside of these ranges.

The ink compositions disclosed herein in one embodiment have onsetmelting points of no lower than about 50° C., in another embodiment ofno lower than about 52° C., and in yet another embodiment of no lowerthan about 55° C., and have onset melting points in one embodiment of nohigher than about 75° C., in another embodiment of no higher than about72° C., and in yet another embodiment of no higher than about 69° C.,although the onset melting point can be outside of these ranges.

The ink compositions disclosed herein generally have melt viscosities atthe jetting temperature (in one embodiment no lower than about 75° C.,in another embodiment no lower than about 85° C., and in yet anotherembodiment no lower than about 95° C., and in one embodiment no higherthan about 150° C., and in another embodiment no higher than about 120°C., although the jetting temperature can be outside of these ranges) inone embodiment of no more than about 30 centipoise, in anotherembodiment of no more than about 20 centipoise, and in yet anotherembodiment of no more than about 15 centipoise, and in one embodiment ofno less than about 2 centipoise, in another embodiment of no less thanabout 5 centipoise, and in yet another embodiment of no less than about7 centipoise, although the melt viscosity can be outside of theseranges. In another specific embodiment, the inks have viscosities offrom about 7 to about 15 centipoise at temperatures of about 110, 115,and/or 120° C.

Ink compositions as disclosed herein can be of any desired or effectiveingredients that enable the ink to meet the specified characteristics.For example, one embodiment of an ink that exhibits the specifiedcharacteristics comprises (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change inkcarrier, said carrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and (ii) apolyethylene wax. Another embodiment of an ink that exhibits thespecified characteristics comprises (a) a colorant and (b) a phasechange ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and(ii) a Fischer-Tropsch wax.

Branched triamides are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No.6,860,930, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein byreference. By “branched triamide” is meant that the structure of thetriamide can be drawn so that each amide group is bonded to an atom orgroup of atoms contained in a branch other than that of the others, andthat each amide group is in a different branch. By “each amide group isin a different branch”is meant that the triamide is not linear; by“linear” is meant a molecule wherein all three amide groups can be drawnas being in the same molecular chain or branch, such as linear triamidesof the formulae

or the like. For purposes of the present invention, linear triamidesinclude those wherein a line can be drawn through the three amidegroups, even if one would ordinarily draw a different line. For example,a compound of the formula

is considered a linear compound for purposes of the present invention,because it can also be drawn as follows:

and accordingly would not be considered to be a branched triamide forthe purposes of the inks discloses herein. For purposes of the inksdisclosed herein, “branched triamines”, “branched triacids”, “branchedmonoamino diacids”, and “branched diamino monoacids” have similardefinitions in that each of the three functional groups named can bedrawn as being in a different branch from the other two.

Examples of suitable branched triamides include (but are not limited to)those generated from branched triamines, said branched triamides beingof the formula

wherein R₁ is (i) an alkylene group (including linear, branched,saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, acyclic, substituted, and unsubstitutedalkylene groups, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen,sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the like either may or may notbe present in the alkylene group), in one embodiment with at least about3 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about 4 carbonatoms, in yet another embodiment with at least about 5 carbon atoms, inanother embodiment with at least about 15 carbon atoms, and in yetanother embodiment with at least about 21 carbon atoms, and in oneembodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms, although the numberof carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, (ii) an arylene group(including unsubstituted and substituted arylene groups, and whereinhetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus,boron, and the like either may or may not be present in the arylenegroup), in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with at least about 10 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with at least about 14 carbon atoms, and in one embodimentwith no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with nomore than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with nomore than about 100 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atomscan be outside of these ranges, (iii) an arylalkylene group (includingunsubstituted and substituted arylalkylene groups, wherein the alkylportion of the arylalkylene group can be linear, branched, saturated,unsaturated, cyclic, and/or acyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such asoxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the likeeither may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portionand the aryl portion of the arylalkylene group), in one embodiment withat least about 7 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about8 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with at least about 9carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 200 carbonatoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms,and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms,although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, suchas benzylene or the like, or (iv) an alkylarylene group (includingunsubstituted and substituted alkylarylene groups, wherein the alkylportion of the alkylarylene group can be linear, branched, saturated,unsaturated, cyclic, and/or acyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such asoxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the likeeither may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portionand the aryl portion of the alkylarylene group), in one embodiment withat least about 7 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about8 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with at least about 9carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 200 carbonatoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms,and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms,although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, suchas tolylene or the like, R_(a), R_(b), and R_(c) each, independently ofthe others, is (i) a hydrogen atom, (ii) an alkyl group (includinglinear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, acyclic, substituted,and unsubstituted alkyl groups, and wherein hetero atoms, such asoxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the likeeither may or may not be present in the alkyl group), in one embodimentwith at least 1 carbon atom, in another embodiment with at least about 2carbon atoms, in yet another embodiment with at least about 6 carbonatoms, in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and inyet another embodiment with at least about 10 carbon atoms, and in oneembodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms, although the numberof carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, (iii) an aryl group(including unsubstituted and substituted aryl groups, and wherein heteroatoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, andthe like either may or may not be present in the aryl group), in oneembodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, in another embodimentwith at least about 10 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment withat least about 14 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more thanabout 200 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about150 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about100 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside ofthese ranges, (iv) an arylalkyl group (including unsubstituted andsubstituted arylalkyl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkylgroup can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, and/oracyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur,silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the like either may or may not bepresent in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion ofthe arylalkyl group), in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbonatoms, in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and inyet another embodiment with at least about 8 carbon atoms, and in oneembodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms, although the numberof carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as benzyl or thelike, or (v) an alkylaryl group (including unsubstituted and substitutedalkylaryl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylaryl group canbe linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, and/or acyclic, andwherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon,phosphorus, boron, and the like either may or may not be present ineither or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of thealkylaryl group), in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms,in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in yetanother embodiment with at least about 8 carbon atoms, and in oneembodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms, although the numberof carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as tolyl or thelike, R_(d), R_(e), and R_(f) each, independently of the others, is (i)an alkyl group (including linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated,cyclic, acyclic, substituted, and unsubstituted alkyl groups, andwherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon,phosphorus, boron, and the like either may or may not be present in thealkyl group), in one embodiment with at least 1 carbon atom, in anotherembodiment with at least about 2 carbon atoms, in yet another embodimentwith at least about 6 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at leastabout 17 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with at least about36 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 200carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 150 carbonatoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 100 carbonatoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of theseranges, (ii) an aryl group (including unsubstituted and substituted arylgroups, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur,silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the like either may or may not bepresent in the aryl group), in one embodiment with at least about 6carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about 10 carbon atoms,and in yet another embodiment with at least about 14 carbon atoms, andin one embodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms, although the numberof carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, (iii) an arylalkyl group(including unsubstituted and substituted arylalkyl groups, wherein thealkyl portion of the arylalkyl group can be linear, branched, saturated,unsaturated, cyclic, and/or acyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such asoxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the likeeither may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portionand the aryl portion of the arylalkyl group), in one embodiment with atleast about 6 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about 7carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with at least about 8 carbonatoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms,in another embodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and inyet another embodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms,although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, suchas benzyl or the like, or (iv) an alkylaryl group (includingunsubstituted and substituted alkylaryl groups, wherein the alkylportion of the alkylaryl group can be linear, branched, saturated,unsaturated, cyclic, and/or acyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such asoxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the likeeither may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portionand the aryl portion of the alkylaryl group), in one embodiment with atleast about 6 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about 7carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with at least about 8 carbonatoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms,in another embodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and inyet another embodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms,although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, suchas tolyl or the like, those generated from branched triacids, saidbranched triamides being of the formula

wherein R₂ is (i) an alkylene group (including linear, branched,saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, acyclic, substituted, and unsubstitutedalkylene groups, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen,sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the like either may or may notbe present in the alkylene group), in one embodiment with at least about3 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about 4 carbonatoms, in yet another embodiment with at least about 5 carbon atoms, inanother embodiment with at least about 15 carbon atoms, and in yetanother embodiment with at least about 21 carbon atoms, and in on eembodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms, although the numberof carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, (ii) an arylene group(including unsubstituted and substituted arylene groups, and whereinhetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus,boron, and the like either may or may not be present in the arylenegroup), in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with at least about 10 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with at least about 14 carbon atoms, and in one embodimentwith no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with nomore than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with nomore than about 100 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atomscan be outside of these ranges, (iii) an arylalkylene group (includingunsubstituted and substituted arylalkylene groups, wherein the alkylportion of the arylalkylene group can be linear, branched, saturated,unsaturated, cyclic, and/or acyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such asoxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the likeeither may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portionand the aryl portion of the arylalkylene group), in one embodiment withat least about 7 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about8 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with at least about 9carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 200 carbonatoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms,and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms,although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, suchas benzylene or the like, or (iv) an alkylarylene group (includingunsubstituted and substituted alkylarylene groups, wherein the alkylportion of the alkylarylene group can be linear, branched, saturated,unsaturated, cyclic, and/or acyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such asoxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the likeeither may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portionand the aryl portion of the alkylarylene group), in one embodiment withat least about 7 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about8 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with at least about 9carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 200 carbonatoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms,and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms,although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, suchas tolylene or the like, R_(g), R_(j), and R_(p) each, independently ofthe others, is (i) a hydrogen atom, (ii) an alkyl group (includinglinear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, acyclic, substituted,and unsubstituted alkyl groups, and wherein hetero atoms, such asoxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the likeeither may or may not be present in the alkyl group), in one embodimentwith at least about 1 carbon atom, in another embodiment with at leastabout 2 carbon atoms, in yet another embodiment with at least about 3carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms,and in yet another embodiment with at least about 18 carbon atoms, andin one embodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms, although the numberof carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, (iii) an aryl group(including unsubstituted and substituted aryl groups, and wherein heteroatoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, andthe like either may or may not be present in the aryl group), in oneembodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, in another embodimentwith at least about 10 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment withat least about 14 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more thanabout 200 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about150 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about100 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside ofthese ranges, (iv) an arylalkyl group (including unsubstituted andsubstituted arylalkyl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkylgroup can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, and/oracyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur,silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the like either may or may not bepresent in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion ofthe arylalkyl group), in one embodiment with at least about 7 carbonatoms, in another embodiment with at least about 8 carbon atoms, and inyet another embodiment with at least about 9 carbon atoms, and in oneembodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms, although the numberof carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as benzyl or thelike, or (v) an alkylaryl group (including unsubstituted and substitutedalkylaryl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylaryl group canbe linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, and/or acyclic, andwherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon,phosphorus, boron, and the like either may or may not be present ineither or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of thealkylaryl group), in one embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms,in another embodiment with at least about 8 carbon atoms, and in yetanother embodiment with at least about 9 carbon atoms, and in oneembodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms, although the numberof carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as tolyl or thelike, R_(h), R_(k), and R_(q) each, independently of the others, is (i)a hydrogen atom, (ii) an alkyl group (including linear, branched,saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, acyclic, substituted, and unsubstitutedalkyl groups, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen,sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the like either may or may notbe present in the alkyl group), in one embodiment with at least about 1carbon atom, in another embodiment with at least about 2 carbon atoms,in yet another embodiment with at least about 3 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with at least about 4 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with at least about 5 carbon atoms, and in one embodimentwith no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with nomore than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with nomore than about 100 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atomscan be outside of these ranges, (iii) an aryl group (includingunsubstituted and substituted aryl groups, and wherein hetero atoms,such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, and thelike either may or may not be present in the aryl group), in oneembodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, in another embodimentwith at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment withat least about 8 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more thanabout 200 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about150 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about100 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside ofthese ranges, (iv) an arylalkyl group (including unsubstituted andsubstituted arylalkyl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkylgroup can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, and/oracyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur,silicon, phosphorus, boron, and the like either may or may not bepresent in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion ofthe arylalkyl group), in one embodiment with at least about 7 carbonatoms, in another embodiment with at least about 8 carbon atoms, and inyet another embodiment with at least about 9 carbon atoms, and in oneembodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms, although the numberof carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as benzyl or thelike, or (v) an alkylaryl group (including unsubstituted and substitutedalkylaryl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylaryl group canbe linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, and/or acyclic, andwherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon,phosphorus, boron, and the like either may or may not be present ineither or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of thealkylaryl group), in one embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms,in another embodiment with at least about 8 carbon atoms, and in yetanother embodiment with at least about 9 carbon atoms, and in oneembodiment with no more than about 200 carbon atoms, in anotherembodiment with no more than about 150 carbon atoms, and in yet anotherembodiment with no more than about 100 carbon atoms, although the numberof carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as tolyl or thelike, those generated from branched diamino monoacid compounds, saidbranched triamides being of the formula

wherein R₁, R_(a), R_(b), R_(d), R_(e), R_(g), and R_(h) are as definedhereinabove, those generated from branched monoamino diacid compounds,said branched triamides being of the formula

wherein R₂, R_(a), R_(d), R_(g), R_(h), R_(j), and R_(k) are as definedhereinabove, and the like, wherein the substituents on the substitutedalkyl, alkylene, aryl, arylene, arylalkyl, arylalkylene, alkylaryl, andalkylarylene groups can be (but are not limited to) hydroxy groups,halogen atoms, imine groups, ammonium groups, cyano groups, pyridinegroups, pyridinium groups, ether groups, aldehyde groups, ketone groups,ester groups, carbonyl groups, thiocarbonyl groups, sulfate groups,sulfonate groups, sulfonic acid groups, sulfide groups, sulfoxidegroups, phosphine groups, phosphonium groups, phosphate groups, nitrilegroups, mercapto groups, nitro groups, nitroso groups, sulfone groups,azide groups, azo groups, cyanato groups, carboxylate groups, mixturesthereof, and the like, wherein two or more substituents can be joinedtogether to form a ring.

In one specific embodiment, when the triamide is of the formula

the total number of carbon atoms inR₁+R_(a)+R_(b)+R_(c)+R_(d)+R_(e)+R_(f) is at least about 7, in anotherembodiment at least about 10, and in yet another embodiment at leastabout 12, and in one embodiment no more than about 500, in anotherembodiment no more than about 350, and in yet another embodiment no morethan about 300, although the total number of carbon atoms can be outsideof these ranges. In another specific embodiment, each of R_(a), R_(d),R_(b), R_(e), R_(c), and R_(f), independently of the others, has no morethan about 50 carbon atoms, and in yet another specific embodiment nomore than about 48 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms canbe outside of these ranges.

In one specific embodiment, when the triamide is of the formula

the total number of carbon atoms inR₂+R_(g)+R_(h)+R_(j)+R_(k)+R_(p)+R_(q) is at least about 7, in anotherembodiment at least about 10, and in yet another embodiment at leastabout 12, and in one embodiment no more than about 500, in anotherembodiment no more than about 350, and in yet another embodiment no morethan about 300, although the total number of carbon atoms can be outsideof these ranges. In another specific embodiment, each of R_(g), R_(h),R_(j), R_(k), R_(p), and R_(q), independently of the others, has no morethan about 50 carbon atoms, and in yet another specific embodiment nomore than about 48 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms canbe outside of these ranges.

In one specific embodiment, when the triamide is of the formula

the total number of carbon atoms inR₁+R_(a)+R_(b)+R_(d)+R_(e)+R_(g)+R_(h) is at least about 7, in anotherembodiment at least about 10, and in yet another embodiment at leastabout 12, and in one embodiment no more than about 500, in anotherembodiment no more than about 350, and in yet another embodiment no morethan about 300, although the total number of carbon atoms can be outsideof these ranges. In another specific embodiment, each of R_(a), R_(d),R_(b), R_(e), R_(g), and R_(h), independently of the others, has no morethan about 50 carbon atoms, and in yet another specific embodiment nomore than about 48 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms canbe outside of these ranges.

In one specific embodiment, when the triamide is of the formula

the total number of carbon atoms inR₂+R_(a)+R_(d)+R_(g)+R_(h)+R_(j)+R_(k) is at least about 7, in anotherembodiment at least about 10, and in yet another embodiment at leastabout 12, and in one embodiment no more than about 500, in anotherembodiment no more than about 350, and in yet another embodiment no morethan about 300, although the total number of carbon atoms can be outsideof these ranges. In another specific embodiment, each of R_(a), R_(d),R_(g), R_(h), R_(j), and R_(k), independently of the others, has no morethan about 50 carbon atoms, and in yet another specific embodiment nomore than about 48 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms canbe outside of these ranges.

It must be emphasized that not all of the amide groups in the firstformula need to be directly bonded to the same atom in the R₁ or R₂group, and in one specific embodiment of the present invention, eachamide group is bonded to a different atom in the R₁ or R₂ group.

In one specific embodiment, the branched triamide is of the formula

wherein x, y, and z each, independently represent the number ofpropyleneoxy repeat units and x+y+z is from about 5 to about 6, andwherein p, q, and r each, independently of the others, are integersrepresenting the number of repeat —(CH₂)— units and are in oneembodiment at least about 15, in another embodiment is at least about20, and in another embodiment is at least about 26, and are oneembodiment no more than about 60, in another embodiment are no more thanabout 55, and are in yet another embodiment no more than about 45,although the value of p, q, and r can be outside of these ranges. Thetriamide composition is frequently obtained as a mixture of materials,wherein p, q, and r are each peak average chain length numbers withinthe composition, rather than uniform compositions wherein each moleculehas the same value for p, q, and r, and it must be understood thatwithin the mixture, some individual chains may be longer or shorter thanthe given numbers.

The triamide is present in the ink in any desired or effective amount,in one embodiment at least about 2 percent by weight of the phase changeink carrier, in another embodiment at least about 5 percent by weight ofcarrier, and in yet another embodiment at least about 10 percent byweight of the carrier, and in one embodiment no more than about 50percent by weight of the carrier, in another embodiment no more thanabout 40 percent by weight of the carrier, and in yet another embodimentno more than about 35 percent by weight of the carrier, although theamount can be outside of these ranges.

The polyethylene wax in one specific embodiment has an average peakmolecular weight, as measured by high temperature gel permeationchromatography, of in one embodiment at least about 350, in anotherembodiment at least about 400, and in yet another embodiment at leastabout 470, and in one embodiment no more than about 730, in anotherembodiment no more than about 700, and in yet another embodiment no morethan about 600, although the average peak molecular weight can beoutside of these ranges.

The polyethylene wax in one specific embodiment has a polydispersity(determined by dividing weight average molecular weight by numberaverage molecular weight) in one embodiment of at least about 1.0001,and in one embodiment of no more than about 1.500, in another embodimentof no more than about 1.400, in yet another embodiment of no more thanabout 1.300, in still another embodiment of no more than about 1.200, inanother embodiment of no more than about 1.100, and in yet anotherembodiment of no more than about 1.050, although the polydispersity canbe outside of these ranges.

The polyethylene wax in one specific embodiment has a peak melting point(as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) in oneembodiment of at least about 50° C., in another embodiment at leastabout 60° C., and in yet another embodiment of at least about 70° C.,and in one embodiment of no more than about 130° C., in anotherembodiment of no more than about 125° C., and in yet another embodimentof no more than about 120° C., although the peak melting point can beoutside of these ranges.

The polyethylene wax in one specific embodiment has an onset meltingpoint (as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) in oneembodiment of at least about 50° C., in another embodiment at leastabout 52° C., and in yet another embodiment of at least about 55° C.,and in one embodiment of no more than about 71° C., in anotherembodiment of no more than about 70° C., and in yet another embodimentof no more than about 69° C., although the onset melting point can beoutside of these ranges.

The polyethylene wax in one specific embodiment has a melting range,which is defined as the difference between ending melting point andonset melting point as defined in ASTM D3418-03, in one embodiment of atleast about 5° C., in another embodiment at least about 8° C., and inyet another embodiment of at least about 10° C., and in one embodimentof no more than about 40° C., in another embodiment of no more thanabout 35° C., and in yet another embodiment of no more than about 30°C., although the melting range can be outside of these ranges.

The polyethylene wax in one specific embodiment has a freezing point (asmeasured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) in one embodimentof at least about 40° C., in another embodiment at least about 50° C.,and in yet another embodiment of at least about 55° C., and in oneembodiment of no more than about 80° C., in another embodiment of nomore than about 75° C., and in yet another embodiment of no more thanabout 70° C., although the freezing point can be outside of theseranges.

Fischer-Tropsch waxes can be prepared from the hydrogen and carbonmonoxide mixture obtained by passing steam over hot coal. The synthesiscan be carried out with metallic catalysts at high temperature andpressure. They are synthetic hydrocarbons, as opposed to naturalhydrocarbons. They differ from polyethylene waxes, which are prepared bythe polymerization of ethylene (CH₂═CH₂) in that polyethylene waxes tendto be completely linear, whereas Fischer-Tropsch waxes tend to have somedegree of branching therein. Because of this branching, Fischer-Tropschwaxes tend to be somewhat less crystalline and somewhat less hardcompared to the perfectly linear polyethylene waxes.

Fischer-Tropsch waxes included in the inks disclosed herein have anaverage peak molecular weight, as measured by high temperature gelpermeation chromatography, of in one embodiment at least about 300, inanother embodiment at least about 375, and in yet another embodiment atleast about 400, and in one embodiment no more than about 800, inanother embodiment no more than about 750, and in yet another embodimentno more than about 700, although the average peak molecular weight canbe outside of these ranges.

The Fischer-Tropsch wax has a polydispersity (determined by dividingweight average molecular weight by number average molecular weight) inone embodiment of at least about 1.001, in another embodiment of atleast about 1.005, and in yet another embodiment of at least about1.010, and in one embodiment of no more than about 3, in anotherembodiment of no more than about 2.5, and in yet another embodiment ofno more than about 2, although the polydispersity can be outside ofthese ranges.

The Fischer-Tropsch wax has a peak melting point (as measured bydifferential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) in one embodiment of at leastabout 50° C., in another embodiment at least about 55° C., and in yetanother embodiment of at least about 60° C., and in one embodiment of nomore than about 105° C., in another embodiment of no more than about100° C., and in yet another embodiment of no more than about 95° C.,although the peak melting point can be outside of these ranges.

The Fischer-Tropsch wax has an onset melting point (as measured bydifferential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) in one embodiment of at leastabout 40° C., in another embodiment at least about 45° C., and in yetanother embodiment of at least about 50° C., and in one embodiment of nomore than about 105° C., in another embodiment of no more than about100° C., and in yet another embodiment of no more than about 95° C.,although the onset melting point can be outside of these ranges.

The Fischer-Tropsch wax has a melting range, which is defined as thedifference between ending melting point and onset melting point asdefined in ASTM D3418-03, in one embodiment of at least about 5° C., inanother embodiment at least about 8° C., and in yet another embodimentof at least about 10° C., and in one embodiment of no more than about40° C., in another embodiment of no more than about 30° C., and in yetanother embodiment of no more than about 25° C., although the meltingrange can be outside of these ranges.

The Fischer-Tropsch wax has a freezing point (as measured bydifferential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) in one embodiment of at leastabout 40° C., in another embodiment at least about 50° C., and in yetanother embodiment of at least about 55° C., and in one embodiment of nomore than about 90° C., in another embodiment of no more than about 88°C., and in yet another embodiment of no more than about 85° C., althoughthe freezing point can be outside of these ranges.

The polyethylene or Fischer-Tropsch wax in one specific embodiment has aviscosity at about 110° C. in one embodiment of at least about 3centipoise, in another embodiment of at least about 4 centipoise, and inyet another embodiment of at least about 4.5 centipoise, and in oneembodiment of no more than about 10 centipoise, in another embodiment ofno more than about 9 centipoise, and in yet another embodiment of nomore than about 8 centipoise, although the viscosity can be outside ofthese ranges.

By “average peak molecular weight” is meant that the polyethylene orFischer-Tropsch wax, while comprising a mixture of molecules of theformula —(CH₂)_(n)— wherein n is an integer representing the number ofrepeat —CH₂— units, has a distribution of molecules such that a plot ofthe relative amount of molecules versus the retention time or molecularweight would appear as a bell curve, wherein the peak of the bell curverepresents the average peak molecular weight. In contrast, polyethyleneor Fischer-Tropsch waxes having a different average peak molecularweight value, while they may contain materials that overlap in the valueof “n”, will have different characteristics.

Shown in the Figure are measurements of molecular weight taken for somepolyethylene waxes and some Fischer-Tropsch waxes by high temperaturegel permeation chromatography with a Polymer Labs 220HT system usingrefractive index detection, a mobile phase of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene,and two Polymer 3 μm Mixed-E columns for separation. The entire systemand the sample solution before injection were heated to 140° C. Themolecular weights were characterized using polyethylene standards forcalibration. One material (PE500) was a polyethylene wax commerciallyavailable from Baker Petrolite, Tulsa, Okla., being POLYWAX® 500 (PE500). Also measured was a polyethylene wax commercially available fromBaker Petrolite, Tulsa, Okla., being POLYWAX® 655 (PE655). Also measuredwas a polyethylene wax commercially available from Baker Petrolite,Tulsa, Okla., having a molecular weight of about 655 (PE655). Alsomeasured (PE-C) was a polyethylene wax obtained from Baker Petrolite,Tulsa, Okla., being similar to POLYWAX® 500 but having had removed bydistillation both the lowest 15 percent molecular weight fraction andthe highest 15 percent molecular weight fraction. This distillation canbe carried out as described in, for example, U.S. Patent Publication2005/0130054, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein byreference. Also measured (FT-B) was a Fischer-Tropsch wax commerciallyavailable from Sasol Wax Americas, Inc. as SASOLWAX® C80, said waxhaving been fractioned by distillation. Also measured (FT-C) was aFischer-Tropsch wax obtained from Sasol Wax Americas, Inc., said waxbeing similar to SASOLWAX® C80 but having had removed by distillationthe lowest 9 percent molecular weight fraction. Also measured (FT-D) wasa Fischer-Tropsch wax obtained from Sasol Wax Americas, Inc., said waxbeing similar to SASOLWAX® C80 but having had removed by distillationthe lowest 20 percent molecular weight fraction. Also measured (FT-E)was a Fischer-Tropsch wax obtained from Sasol Wax Americas, Inc., saidwax being similar to SASOLWAX® C80 but having had removed bydistillation the lowest 30 percent molecular weight fraction. retentiontimes (sec.) PE 500 PE 655 PE-C FT-B FT-C FT-D FT-E 750 0.1 −0.7 −0.9−0.8 −0.7 −0.1 −1.1 755 0.2 −0.6 −0.9 −0.8 −0.7 −0.1 −1.1 760 0.2 −0.4−0.9 −0.8 −0.7 −0.1 −1.1 765 0.2 −0.1 −0.9 −0.7 −0.7 −0.1 −1.0 770 0.30.1 −0.9 −0.6 −0.7 −0.1 −1.0 775 0.3 0.6 −0.9 −0.6 −0.7 −0.1 −1.0 7800.4 1.2 −0.9 −0.5 −0.7 0.0 −1.0 785 0.6 2.1 −0.9 −0.5 −0.7 0.0 −1.0 7900.8 3.6 −0.9 −0.4 −0.7 0.0 −1.0 795 1.0 6.0 −1.0 −0.3 −0.6 0.0 −1.0 8001.3 9.7 −1.0 −0.3 −0.6 0.1 −1.0 805 1.8 14.8 −1.0 −0.2 −0.6 0.1 −0.9 8102.3 21.8 −1.0 −0.1 −0.5 0.2 −0.8 815 3.2 30.6 −1.0 0.1 −0.4 0.3 −0.7 8204.5 41.1 −1.0 0.2 −0.2 0.6 −0.4 825 6.3 52.6 −0.9 0.5 0.2 1.0 0.0 8308.9 64.5 −0.9 0.8 0.8 1.7 0.8 835 12.6 75.9 −0.7 1.4 2.1 3.1 2.3 84017.6 85.8 −0.3 2.5 4.4 5.6 5.0 845 24.1 93.5 0.6 4.4 8.3 9.8 9.6 85032.0 98.3 2.8 7.6 14.6 16.5 16.8 855 41.3 100.0 7.0 12.6 23.9 26.7 27.6860 51.4 98.6 14.4 20.0 36.9 40.5 42.3 865 61.9 94.3 26.0 30.0 52.9 57.359.9 870 72.2 87.8 41.3 42.3 70.2 75.1 77.9 875 81.7 79.7 58.7 56.2 86.090.2 92.4 880 89.6 70.6 75.3 70.1 96.7 98.9 99.6 881 90.9 68.8 78.2 72.898.0 99.6 100.0 882 92.2 66.9 81.0 75.5 99.0 100.0 99.9 884 94.5 63.186.1 80.6 100.0 99.5 98.7 885 95.5 61.2 88.4 83.1 99.9 98.8 97.6 89099.0 52.0 96.6 93.6 94.9 89.9 87.2 891 99.4 50.3 97.7 95.3 93.0 87.284.4 895 100.0 43.4 99.9 99.6 82.5 74.4 71.3 896.5 99.8 41.0 100.0 100.077.7 69.0 65.9 900 98.6 35.7 98.5 97.3 64.9 55.9 53.1 905 95.0 28.7 93.484.0 45.3 37.6 35.5 910 89.7 22.8 84.9 62.9 27.3 22.2 20.8 910.5 89.122.2 83.9 60.7 25.7 20.9 19.5 915 82.8 17.9 73.2 42.5 13.9 11.5 10.4 92075.0 13.9 60.1 28.1 6.0 5.3 4.3 925 67.4 10.5 46.3 19.4 2.4 2.5 1.5 93058.8 8.0 32.7 13.9 0.9 1.4 0.4 935 51.2 5.7 22.0 9.5 0.4 1.0 0.0 94043.9 4.3 13.2 5.6 0.1 0.8 −0.2 945 36.7 2.9 7.7 2.7 −0.1 0.7 −0.4 95031.3 2.0 3.9 1.1 −0.2 0.6 −0.5 955 25.2 1.2 2.0 0.3 −0.3 0.5 −0.5 96021.4 0.8 0.7 −0.1 −0.4 0.5 −0.6 965 16.9 0.2 0.1 −0.3 −0.4 0.4 −0.7 97013.5 0.1 −0.4 −0.3 −0.5 0.4 −0.7 975 11.4 −0.3 −0.6 −0.3 −0.6 0.3 −0.8980 7.4 −0.4 −0.8 −0.3 −0.6 0.2 −0.8 985 6.8 −0.6 −0.9 −0.3 −0.7 0.2−0.9 990 4.4 −0.8 −1.0 −0.4 −0.7 0.2 −0.9 995 2.9 −0.7 −1.0 −0.6 −0.80.1 −1.0 1000 2.6 −0.9 −1.0 −0.8 −0.8 0.1 −1.0 1005 1.5 −0.9 −1.1 −0.9−0.8 0.1 −1.1 1010 0.9 −0.9 −1.1 −1.0 −0.9 0.1 −1.1 1015 0.9 −0.9 −1.1−1.0 −0.9 0.1 −1.1 1020 0.6 −1.1 −1.1 −1.1 −0.9 0.1 −1.1 1025 0.4 −1.1−1.2 −1.2 −0.9 0.1 −1.1 1030 0.4 −1.5 −1.2 −1.4 −0.8 0.1 −1.0 1035 0.7−2.0 −1.4 −1.7 −0.8 0.2 −0.9 1040 0.9 −2.2 −1.8 −1.7 −0.6 0.4 −0.7 10450.8 −1.6 −1.8 −1.5 0.0 1.0 −0.2

As measured by high temperature gel permeation chromatography, the peakaverage molecular weight (M_(p)), number average molecular weight(M_(n)), weight average molecular weight (M_(w)), and polydispersity(MWD) as measured by high temperature gel permeation chromatography forthese waxes were as follows: M_(p) M_(n) M_(w) MWD PE 500 572 516 5701.10 PE 655 795 729 785 1.08 PE-C 582 562 579 1.03 FT-B 558 565 588 1.04FT-C 620 619 635 1.03 FT-D 631 627 643 1.03 FT-E 637 630 646 1.03

Peak melting point (° C., as measured by differential scanningcalorimetry using a DUPONT 2100 calorimeter according to ASTM D3418-03), onset melting point (° C., as measured by differentialscanning calorimetry), viscosity at 110° C. (centipoise, measured usinga Rheometric Scientific RS-2000 core-plate viscometer), and freezingpoint (° C., as measured by differential scanning calorimetry) of thehigh temperature gel permeation chromatography data of these waxes wereas follows: peak MP onset MP melting range viscosity FP PE 500 81.2 52.542.2 5.44 70.3 PE 655 94.6 72.3 29.6˜33.0 9.80 85.5 PE-C 83.8 65.5 24.15.18 67.4 FT-B 82.1 69.5 22.1 5.53 70.1 FT-C 85.1 73.3 17.1 6.09 76.6FT-D 86.1 74.5 16.2 6.26 78.2 FT-E 86.7 74.6 17.7 6.33 77.6— = not measured or determined

Melted liquid clearness of the waxes was evaluated by melting samples ofthe waxes in glass jars and keeping them in an oven at varioustemperatures, followed by checking them with the naked eye for clearnessversus the presence of precipitates over time. The results were asfollows: PE 500 PE-C 1 day at 120° C. clear clear 3 days at 110° C. alittle precipitate clear 6 days at 105° C. a little precipitate clear 11days at 100° C. a little precipitate clearThe results clearly indicate the advantage of the wax having had boththe low molecular weight fraction and the high molecular weight fractionremoved in that no precipitates form therein even after 11 days. Thecloudiness is believed to indicate the presence of precipitatesresponsible for printhead clogging, which results in reduced ink flowrate through screen filters in ink jet printhead, which in turn causesweak or missing jets.

The polyethylene wax in the inks disclosed herein have had some of thelowest molecular weight fraction removed therefrom and some of thehighest molecular weight fraction removed therefrom, in one embodimentat least about the lowest 5 percent molecular weight fraction removedtherefrom, in another embodiment at least about the lowest 7.5 percentmolecular weight fraction removed therefrom, in yet another embodimentat least about the lowest 10 percent molecular weight fraction removedtherefrom, in still another embodiment, at least about the lowest 12.5molecular weight fraction removed therefrom, and in yet still anotherembodiment at least about the lowest 15 percent molecular weightfraction removed therefrom, and in one embodiment least about thehighest 5 percent molecular weight fraction removed therefrom, inanother embodiment at least about the highest 7.5 percent molecularweight fraction removed therefrom, in yet another embodiment at leastabout the highest 10 percent molecular weight fraction removedtherefrom, in still another embodiment, at least about the highest 12.5molecular weight fraction removed therefrom, and in yet still anotherembodiment at least about the highest 15 percent molecular weightfraction removed therefrom, although the amount removed therefrom can beoutside of these ranges.

In some specific embodiments, the Fischer-Tropsch wax in the inksdisclosed herein have had some of the lowest molecular weight fractionremoved therefrom, in one embodiment at least about the lowest 5 percentmolecular weight fraction removed therefrom, in another embodiment atleast about the lowest 7.5 percent molecular weight fraction removedtherefrom, in yet another embodiment at least about the lowest 10percent molecular weight fraction removed therefrom, in still anotherembodiment, at least about the lowest 12.5 molecular weight fractionremoved therefrom, in another embodiment at least about the lowest 15percent molecular weight fraction removed therefrom, in yet anotherembodiment at least about the lowest 20 percent molecular weightfraction removed therefrom, in still another embodiment at least aboutthe lowest 25 percent molecular weight fraction removed therefrom, inanother embodiment at least about the lowest 30 percent molecular weightfraction removed therefrom, and in yet another embodiment at least aboutthe lowest 35 percent molecular weight fraction removed therefrom,although the amount removed therefrom can be outside of these ranges.

The lowest molecular weight fraction and the highest molecular weightfraction can be removed from the polyethylene or Fischer-Tropsch wax byany desired or effective method, including (but not limited to) thedistillation methods described in U.S. Patent Publication 2005/0130054,the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, thepurification methods set forth in Copending application Ser. No.11/126,745, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein byreference, or the like.

As stated hereinabove, the Fischer-Tropsch process used to generate theFischer-Tropsch waxes differs from the polymerization of ethyleneprocess used to generate polyethylene waxes in that the Fischer-Tropschprocess tends to generate more branching in the resulting materials. ¹³Cand ¹H NMR spectra were used to measure the branching extent and numberof pendant —OH groups in some of the Fischer-Tropsch and polyethylenewaxes. Samples were dissolved in deuterated benzene and ¹³C NMR spectrawere obtained on a Bruker Avance 400 NMR spectrometer at 78° C. Inaddition, DEPT (distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer)experiments were carried out to distinguish CH, CH₂, and CH₃ carbons asan aid to spectral assignment. ¹H NMR measurements were made on the samesamples on a Bruker Avance 500 NMR spectrometer at 78° C. The resultswere as follows: # isolated long # methyl # pendant —OH branches per 100branches per 100 groups per 100 Wax chains chains chains PE 500 trace 0trace PE-C 0 1 1.2 FT-B 1.2 6.4 0

The polyethylene wax is present in the ink in any desired or effectiveamount, in one embodiment at least about 10 percent by weight of thephase change ink carrier, in another embodiment at least about 15percent by weight of carrier, and in yet another embodiment at leastabout 20 percent by weight of the carrier, and in one embodiment no morethan about 95 percent by weight of the carrier, in another embodiment nomore than about 90 percent by weight of the carrier, and in yet anotherembodiment no more than about 85 percent by weight of the carrier,although the amount can be outside of these ranges.

The Fischer-Tropsch wax is present in the ink in any desired oreffective amount, in one embodiment at least about 1 percent by weightof the phase change ink carrier, in another embodiment at least about 3percent by weight of carrier, and in yet another embodiment at leastabout 5 percent by weight of the carrier, and in one embodiment no morethan about 99 percent by weight of the carrier, in another embodiment nomore than about 97 percent by weight of the carrier, and in yet anotherembodiment no more than about 95 percent by weight of the carrier,although the amount can be outside of these ranges.

Additional examples of suitable phase change ink carrier materials aremonoamides, tetra-amides, mixtures thereof, and the like. Specificexamples of suitable fatty amide ink carrier materials include stearylstearamide, such as KEMAMIDE S-180, available from Crompton Corporation,Greenwich, Conn., and the like. Further information on fatty amidecarrier materials is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.4,889,560, 4,889,761, 5,194,638, 4,830,671, 6,174,937, 5,372,852,5,597,856, 6,174,937, and British Patent GB 2 238 792, the disclosuresof each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference. In onespecific embodiment, a monoamide is present in the ink carrier in anamount in one embodiment of at least about 0.01 percent by weight of thecarrier, in another embodiment of at least 2 percent by weight of thecarrier, and in yet another embodiment of at least about 5 percent byweight of the carrier, and in one embodiment of no more than about 90percent by weight of the carrier, in another embodiment of no more thanabout 80 percent by weight of the carrier, and in yet another embodimentof no more than about 70 percent by weight of the carrier, although theamount can be outside of these ranges.

Also suitable as phase change ink carrier materials areisocyanate-derived resins and waxes, such as urethane isocyanate-derivedmaterials, urea isocyanate-derived materials, urethane/ureaisocyanate-derived materials, mixtures thereof, and the like. Furtherinformation on isocyanate-derived carrier materials is disclosed in, forexample, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,750,604, 5,780,528, 5,782,966, 5,783,658,5,827,918, 5,830,942, 5,919,839, 6,255,432, 6,309,453, British Patent GB2 294 939, British Patent GB 2 305 928, British Patent GB 2 305 670,British Patent GB 2 290 793, PCT Publication WO 94/14902, PCTPublication WO 97/12003, PCT Publication WO 97/13816, PCT Publication WO96/14364, PCT Publication WO 97/33943, and PCT Publication WO 95/04760,the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein byreference.

In one specific embodiment, the ink can contain a urethane resinobtained from the reaction of two equivalents of ABITOL® E hydroabietylalcohol (available from Hercules Inc., Wilmington, Del.) and oneequivalent of isophorone diisocyanate, prepared as described in Example1 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,966, the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference. When present, this resin is present inthe ink in one embodiment in an amount of at least about 1 percent byweight of the ink carrier, in another embodiment at least about 2percent by weight of the ink carrier, in yet another embodiment at leastabout 3 percent by weight of the ink carrier, in another embodiment atleast about 4 percent by weight of the ink carrier, and in yet anotherembodiment at least about 5 percent by weight of the ink carrier, and inone embodiment no more than about 80 percent by weight of the inkcarrier, in another embodiment no more than about 70 percent by weightof the ink carrier, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 60percent by weight of the ink carrier, although the amount can be outsideof these ranges.

In another specific embodiment, the ink can contain a urethane resinthat is the adduct of three equivalents of stearyl isocyanate and aglycerol-based alcohol prepared as described in Example 4 of U.S. Pat.No. 6,309,453, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein byreference. When present, this resin is present in the ink in oneembodiment in an amount of at least about 0.1 percent by weight of theink carrier, in another embodiment at least about 0.5 percent by weightof the ink carrier, and in yet another embodiment at least about 1percent by weight of the ink carrier, and in one embodiment no more thanabout 40 percent by weight of the ink carrier, in another embodiment nomore than about 35 percent by weight of the ink carrier, and in yetanother embodiment no more than about 30 percent by weight of the inkcarrier, although the amount can be outside of these ranges.

The ink carrier is present in the phase change ink in any desired oreffective amount, in one embodiment of at least about 0.1 percent byweight of the ink, in another embodiment of at least about 50 percent byweight of the ink, and in yet another embodiment of at least about 90percent by weight of the ink, and in one embodiment of no more thanabout 99 percent by weight of the ink, in another embodiment of no morethan about 98 percent by weight of the ink, and in yet anotherembodiment of no more than about 95 percent by weight of the ink,although the amount can be outside of these ranges.

The phase change ink compositions also contain a colorant. The phasechange carrier compositions can be used in combination with phase changeink colorant materials such as Color Index (C.I.) Solvent Dyes, DisperseDyes, modified Acid and Direct Dyes, Basic Dyes, Sulphur Dyes, Vat Dyes,and the like. Examples of suitable dyes include Neozapon Red 492 (BASF);Orasol Red G (Ciba-Geigy); Direct Brilliant Pink B (Crompton & Knowles);Aizen Spilon Red C-BH (Hodogaya Chemical); Kayanol Red 3BL (NipponKayaku); Levanol Brilliant Red 3BW (Mobay Chemical); Levaderm LemonYellow (Mobay Chemical); Spirit Fast Yellow 3G; Aizen Spilon YellowC-GNH (Hodogaya Chemical); Sirius Supra Yellow GD 167; CartasolBrilliant Yellow 4GF (Sandoz); Pergasol Yellow CGP (Ciba-Geigy); OrasolBlack RLP (Ciba-Geigy); Savinyl Black RLS (Sandoz); Dermacarbon 2GT(Sandoz); Pyrazol Black BG (ICI); Morfast Black Conc. A(Morton-Thiokol); Diaazol Black RN Quad (ICI); Orasol Blue GN(Ciba-Geigy); Savinyl Blue GLS (Sandoz); Luxol Blue MBSN(Morton-Thiokol); Sevron Blue 5GMF (ICI); Basacid Blue 750 (BASF),Neozapon Black X51 (C.I. Solvent Black, C.I. 12195) (BASF), Sudan Blue670 (C.I. 61554) (BASF), Sudan Yellow 146 (C.I. 12700) (BASF), Sudan Red462 (C.I. 26050) (BASF), Intratherm Yellow 346 from Crompton andKnowles, C.I. Disperse Yellow 238, Neptune Red Base NB543 (BASF, C.I.Solvent Red 49), Neopen Blue FF-4012 from BASF, Lampronol Black BR fromICI (C.I. Solvent Black 35), Morton Morplas Magenta 36 (C.I. Solvent Red172), metal phthalocyanine colorants such as those disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,221,137, the disclosure of which is totally incorporatedherein by reference, and the like. Polymeric dyes can also be used, suchas those disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,621,022 and5,231,135, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporatedherein by reference, and commercially available from, for example,Milliken & Company as Milliken Ink Yellow 12, Milliken Ink Blue 92,Milliken Ink Red 357, Milliken Ink Yellow 1800, Milliken Ink Black8915-67, uncut Reactant Orange X-38, uncut Reactant Blue X-17, SolventYellow 162, Acid Red 52, Solvent Blue 44, and uncut Reactant VioletX-80.

Also suitable are colorants of the formula

wherein M is an atom or group of atoms capable of bonding to the centralcavity of phthalocyanine molecule, wherein axial ligands optionally canbe attached to M, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,472,523, 6,726,755,and 6,476,219, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporatedherein by reference, colorants of the formula

wherein (A) R₁ is (i) an alkylene group, (ii) an arylene group, (iii) anarylalkylene group, (iv) an alkylarylene group, (v) an alkyleneoxygroup, (vi) an aryleneoxy group, (vii) an arylalkyleneoxy group, (viii)an alkylaryleneoxy group, (ix) a polyalkyleneoxy group, (x) apolyaryleneoxy group, (xi) a polyarylalkyleneoxy group, (xii) apolyalkylaryleneoxy group, (xiii) a heterocyclic group, (xiv) a silylenegroup, (xv) a siloxane group, (xvi) a polysilylene group, or (xvii) apolysiloxane group, (B) R₂ and R₂′ each, independently of the other, is(i) an alkyl group, (ii) an aryl group, (iii) an arylalkyl group, (iv)an alkylaryl group, (v) an alkoxy group, (vi) an aryloxy group, (vii) anarylalkyloxy group, (viii) an alkylaryloxy group, (ix) a polyalkyleneoxygroup, (x) a polyaryleneoxy group, (xi) a polyarylalkyleneoxy group,(xii) a polyalkylaryleneoxy group, (xiii) a heterocyclic group, (xiv) asilyl group, (xv) a siloxane group, (xvi) a polysilylene group, (xvii) apolysiloxane group, or (xviii) a group of the formula

wherein r and s are each, independently of the other, integersrepresenting a number of repeat —CH₂— groups, (C) R₃ and R₃′ each,independently of the other, is (i) an alkyl group, (ii) an aryl group,(iii) an arylalkyl group, or (iv) an alkylaryl group, (D) X and X′ each,independently of the other, is (i) a direct bond, (ii) an oxygen atom,(iii) a sulfur atom, (iv) a group of the formula —NR₄₀— wherein R₄₀ is ahydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or analkylaryl group, or (v) a group of the formula —CR₅₀R₆₀— wherein R₅₀ andR₆₀ each, independently of the other, is a hydrogen atom, an alkylgroup, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group, and (E)Z and Z′ each, independently of the other, is (i) a hydrogen atom, (ii)a halogen atom, (iii) a nitro group, (iv) an alkyl group, (v) an arylgroup, (vi) an arylalkyl group, (vii) an alkylaryl group, (viii) a groupof the formula

wherein R₇₀ is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, analkylaryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an arylalkyloxygroup, an alkylaryloxy group, a polyalkyleneoxy group, a polyaryleneoxygroup, a polyarylalkyleneoxy group, a polyalkylaryleneoxy group, aheterocyclic group, a silyl group, a siloxane group, a polysilylenegroup, or a polysiloxane group, (ix) a sulfonyl group of the formula—SO₂R₈₀ wherein R₈₀ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group,an arylalkyl group, an alkylaryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxygroup, an arylalkyloxy group, an alkylaryloxy group, a polyalkyleneoxygroup, a polyaryleneoxy group, a polyarylalkyleneoxy group, apolyalkylaryleneoxy group, a heterocyclic group, a silyl group, asiloxane group, a polysilylene group, or a polysiloxane group, or (x) aphosphoryl group of the formula —PO₃R₉₀ wherein R₉₀ is a hydrogen atom,an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, an alkylaryl group,an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an arylalkyloxy group, analkylaryloxy group, a polyalkyleneoxy group, a polyaryleneoxy group, apolyarylalkyleneoxy group, a polyalkylaryleneoxy group, a heterocyclicgroup, a silyl group, a siloxane group, a polysilylene group, or apolysiloxane group, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,576,747, 6,713,614,6,663,703, and 6,576,748, the disclosures of which are totallyincorporated herein by reference, colorants of the formula

wherein Y is a hydrogen atom or a bromine atom, n is an integer of 0, 1,2, 3, or 4, R₁ is an alkylene group or an arylalkylene group, and X is(a) a hydrogen atom, (b) a group of the formula

wherein R₂ is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or analkylaryl group, (c) an alkyleneoxy, aryleneoxy, arylalkyleneoxy, oralkylaryleneoxy group, or (d) a group of the formula

wherein R₄ is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or analkylaryl group, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,958,406, 6,821,327,and Copending Application U.S. Ser. No. 10/260,379, filed Sep. 27, 2002,entitled “Methods for Making Colorant Compounds,” the disclosures ofeach of which are totally incorporated herein by reference, colorants ofthe formula

wherein M is either (1) a metal ion having a positive charge of +ywherein y is an integer which is at least 2, said metal ion beingcapable of forming a compound with at least two

chromogen moieties, or (2) a metal-containing moiety capable of forminga compound with at least two

chromogen moieties, z is an integer representing the number of

chromogen moieties associated with the metal and is at least 2, R₁, R₂,R₃, and R₄ each, independently of the others, is (i) a hydrogen atom,(ii) an alkyl group, (iii) an aryl group, (iv) an arylalkyl group, or(v) an alkylaryl group, wherein R₁ and P₂ can be joined together to forma ring, wherein R₃ and P₄ can be joined together to form a ring, andwherein R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₃ can each be joined to a phenyl ring in thecentral structure, a and b each, independently of the others, is aninteger which is 0, 1, 2, or 3, c is an integer which is 0, 1, 2, 3, or4, each R₅, R₆, and R₇, independently of the others, is (i) an alkylgroup, (ii) an aryl group, (iii) an arylalkyl group, (iv) an alkylarylgroup, (v) a halogen atom, (vi) an ester group, (vii) an amide group,(viii) a sulfone group, (ix) an amine group or ammonium group, (x) anitrile group, (xi) a nitro group, (xii) a hydroxy group, (xiii) a cyanogroup, (xiv) a pyridine or pyridinium group, (xv) an ether group, (xvi)an aldehyde group, (xvii) a ketone group, (xviii) a carbonyl group,(xix) a thiocarbonyl group, (xx) a sulfate group, (xxi) a sulfide group,(xxii) a sulfoxide group, (xxiii) a phosphine or phosphonium group,(xxiv) a phosphate group, (xxv) a mercapto group, (xxvi) a nitrosogroup, (xxvii) an acyl group, (xxviii) an acid anhydride group, (xxix)an azide group, (xxx) an azo group, (xxxi) a cyanato group, (xxxii) anisocyanato group, (xxxiii) a thiocyanato group, (xxxiv) anisothiocyanato group, (xxxv) a urethane group, or (xxxvi) a urea group,wherein R₅, R₆, and R₇ can each be joined to a phenyl ring in thecentral structure,

R₈, R₁₀, and R₁₀ each, independently of the others, is (i) a hydrogenatom, (ii) an alkyl group, (iii) an aryl group, (iv) an arylalkyl group,or (v) an alkylaryl group, provided that the number of carbon atoms inR₁+R₂+R₃+R₄+R₅+R₆+R₇+R₈+R₉+R₁₀ is at least about 16, Q— is a COO— groupor a SO₃— group, d is an integer which is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, A is ananion, and CA is either a hydrogen atom or a cation associated with allbut one of the Q— groups, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,835,238,Copending U.S. Application Ser. No. 10/607,373, filed Jun. 26, 2003,entitled “Colorant Compounds,” Copending U.S. Application Ser. No.10/898,724, filed Jul. 23, 2004, entitled “Processes for Preparing PhaseChange Inks,” Copending U.S. Application Ser. No. 10/898,028, entitled“Colorant Compounds,” and Copending U.S. Application Ser. No.10/898,432, entitled “Phase Change Inks,” the disclosures of each ofwhich are totally incorporated herein by reference, and colorants asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,472,523, 6,726,755, 6,476,219, 6,663,703,6,755,902, 6,590,082, 6,696,552, 6,576,748, 6,646,111, and 6,673,139,the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein byreference.

Other ink colors besides the subtractive primary colors can be desirablefor applications such as postal marking, industrial marking, andlabelling using phase change printing, and the inks are applicable tothese needs. Further, infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) absorbing dyescan also be incorporated into the inks for use in applications such as“invisible” coding or marking of products. Examples of such infrared andultraviolet absorbing dyes are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.5,378,574, 5,146,087, 5,145,518, 5,543,177, 5,225,900, 5,301,044,5,286,286, 5,275,647, 5,208,630, 5,202,265, 5,271,764, 5,256,193,5,385,803, and 5,554,480, the disclosures of each of which are totallyincorporated herein by reference.

In a specific embodiment, the colorant is an isocyanate-derived coloredresin as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,780,528 and5,919,839, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporatedherein by reference. In this embodiment, the colorant is the reactionproduct of a hydroxyl-substituted or primary or secondaryamino-substituted chromophore with an isocyanate. Examples of suitableisocyanates include monoisocyanates, diisocyanates, triisocyanates,copolymers of a diisocyanate, copolymers of a triisocyanate,polyisocyanates (having more than three isocyanate functional groups),and the like, as well as mixtures thereof. Specific examples of suitableisocyanates include those listed hereinabove as being suitable forreaction with the hydroxyl-substituted or amino-substituted antioxidant.Examples of suitable hydroxyl-substituted and primary or secondaryamino-substituted chromophores include those disclosed in, for example,U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,157,633, 3,927,044, 3,994,835, 4,102,644, 4,113,721,4,132,840, 4,137,243, 4,170,564, 4,284,729, 4,507,407, 4,640,690,4,732,570, 4,751,254, 4,751,254, 4,761,502, 4,775,748, 4,812,141,4,846,846, 4,871,371, 4,912,203, 4,978,362, 5,043,013, 5,059,244,5,149,800, 5,177,200, 5,270,363, 5,290,921, and 5,731,398, thedisclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein byreference. Hydroxyl-containing and primary or secondary amino-containingcolorants from the classes of Color Index (C.I.) Solvent Dyes, DisperseDyes, modified Acid and Direct Dyes, Basic Dyes, Sulphur Dyes, Vat Dyes,and the like can also be used.

The colorant is present in the phase change ink in any desired oreffective amount to obtain the desired color or hue, in one embodimentat least about 0.1 percent by weight of the ink, in another embodimentat least about 0.2 percent by weight of the ink, and in yet anotherembodiment at least about 0.5 percent by weight of the ink, and in oneembodiment no more than about 50 percent by weight of the ink, inanother embodiment no more than about 20 percent by weight of the ink,and in yet another embodiment no more than about 10 percent by weight ofthe ink, although the amount can be outside of these ranges.

The inks can also optionally contain an antioxidant. The optionalantioxidants of the ink compositions protect the images from oxidationand also protect the ink components from oxidation during the heatingportion of the ink preparation process. Specific examples of suitableantioxidants include NAUGUARD® 524, NAUGUARD® 76, and NAUGUARD® 512(commercially available from Uniroyal Chemical Company, Oxford, Conn.),IRGANOX® 1010 (commercially available from Ciba Geigy), and the like.When present, the optional antioxidant is present in the ink in anydesired or effective amount, in one embodiment of at least about 0.01percent by weight of the ink, in another embodiment of at least about0.05 percent by weight of the ink, and in yet another embodiment of atleast about 0.1 percent by weight of the ink, and in one embodiment ofno more than about 20 percent by weight of the ink, in anotherembodiment of no more than about 5 percent by weight of the ink, and inyet another embodiment of no more than about 3 percent by weight of theink, although the amount can be outside of these ranges.

Other optional additives to the inks include clarifiers, such as UNIONCAMP® X37-523-235 (commercially available from Union Camp), in an amountin one embodiment of at least about 0.01 percent by weight of the ink,in another embodiment of at least about 0.1 percent by weight of theink, and in yet another embodiment of at least about 5 percent by weightof the ink, and in one embodiment of no more than about 98 percent byweight of the ink, in another embodiment of no more than about 50percent by weight of the ink, and in yet another embodiment of no morethan about 10 percent by weight of the ink, although the amount can beoutside of these ranges, tackifiers, such as FORAL® 85, a glycerol esterof hydrogenated abietic (rosin) acid (commercially available fromHercules), FORAL® 105, a pentaerythritol ester of hydroabietic (rosin)acid (commercially available from Hercules), CELLOLYN® 21, ahydroabietic (rosin) alcohol ester of phthalic acid (commerciallyavailable from Hercules), ARAKAWA KE-311 and KE-100 Resins,triglycerides of hydrogenated abietic (rosin) acid (commerciallyavailable from Arakawa Chemical Industries, Ltd.), synthetic polyterpeneresins such as NEVTAC® 2300, NEVTAC® 100, and NEVTAC® 80 (commerciallyavailable from Neville Chemical Company), WINGTACK® 86, a modifiedsynthetic polyterpene resin (commercially available from Goodyear), andthe like, in an amount in one embodiment of at least about 0.1 percentby weight of the ink, in another embodiment of at least about 5 percentby weight of the ink, and in yet another embodiment of at least about 10percent by weight of the ink, and in one embodiment of no more thanabout 98 percent by weight of the ink, in another embodiment of no morethan about 75 percent by weight of the ink, and in yet anotherembodiment of no more than about 50 percent by weight of the ink,although the amount can be outside of these ranges, adhesives, such asVERSAMID® 757, 759, or 744 (commercially available from Henkel), in anamount in one embodiment of at least about 0.1 percent by weight of theink, in another embodiment of at least about 1 percent by weight of theink, and in yet another embodiment of at least about 5 percent by weightof the ink, and in one embodiment of no more than about 98 percent byweight of the ink, in another embodiment of no more than about 50percent by weight of the ink, and in yet another embodiment of no morethan about 10 percent by weight of the ink, although the amount can beoutside of these ranges, plasticizers, such as UNIPLEX® 250(commercially available from Uniplex), the phthalate ester plasticizerscommercially available from Monsanto under the trade name SANTICIZER®,such as dioctyl phthalate, diundecyl phthalate, alkylbenzyl phthalate(SANTICIZER® 278), triphenyl phosphate (commercially available fromMonsanto), KP-140®, a tributoxyethyl phosphate (commercially availablefrom FMC Corporation), MORFLEX® 150, a dicyclohexyl phthalate(commercially available from Morflex Chemical Company Inc.), trioctyltrimellitate (commercially available from Eastman Kodak Co.), and thelike, in an amount in one embodiment of at least about 0.1 percent byweight of the ink, in another embodiment of at least about 1 percent byweight of the ink, and in yet another embodiment of at least about 2percent by weight of the ink, and in one embodiment of no more thanabout 50 percent by weight of the ink, in another embodiment of no morethan about 30 percent by weight of the ink, and in yet anotherembodiment of no more than about 10 percent by weight of the ink,although the amount can be outside of these ranges, and the like.

The ink compositions can be prepared by any desired or suitable method.For example, the ink ingredients can be mixed together, followed byheating, to a temperature in one embodiment of at least about 100° C.,and in one embodiment of no more than about 140° C., although thetemperature can be outside of these ranges, and stirring until ahomogeneous ink composition is obtained, followed by cooling the ink toambient temperature (typically from about 20 to about 25° C). The inksare solid at ambient temperature. In a specific embodiment, during theformation process, the inks in their molten state are poured into moldsand then allowed to cool and solidify to form ink sticks.

Specific embodiments will now be described in detail. These examples areintended to be illustrative, and the claims are not limited to thematerials, conditions, or process parameters set forth in theseembodiments. All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwiseindicated.

EXAMPLE I

Ink compositions were prepared by the following process. All inkingredients except colorant(s) were charged into a stainless steelbeaker. The resulting mixture was then melted together at a temperatureof about 110° C. in an oven, followed by blending by stirring in atemperature controlled mantle at about 110° C. for about 0.3 hour. Tothis mixture was then added the colorant(s). After stirring for about 2additional hours, the ink thus formed was filtered through a heatedMOTT® apparatus (obtained from Mott Metallurgical) using Whatman #3filter paper under a pressure of about 15 pounds per square inch. Thefiltered phase change ink thus formed was poured into molds and allowedto solidify to form ink sticks. Inks were prepared from the followingingredients: Polywax 500, M_(p)=572, M_(n)=516, M_(w)=570, MWD=1.10 asmeasured by HT-GPC (PE 500, obtained from Baker Petrolite, Tulsa,Okla.); narrow molecular weight distribution polyethylene wax (PE-C),similar to Polywax 500 but distilled to remove about 15 percent of thelower molecular weight fraction and about 15 percent of the uppermolecular weight fraction, M_(p)=582, M_(n)=562, M_(w)=579, MWD=1.03 asmeasured by HT-GPC (obtained from Baker Petrolite, Tulsa, Okla.);Fischer-Tropsch (FT-B) wax obtained from Sasol Wax Americas, Inc. asSASOLWAX® C80, M_(p)=558, M_(n)=565, M_(w)=588, MWD=1.04 as measured byHT-GPC; Fischer-Tropsch wax (FT-C) obtained from Sasol Wax Americas,Inc., said wax being similar to SASOLWAX® C80 but having had removed bydistillation the lowest 9 percent molecular weight fraction, M_(p)=620,M_(n)=619, M_(w)=635, MWD=1.03 as measured by HT-GPC; Fischer-Tropschwax (FT-D) obtained from Sasol Wax Americas, Inc., said wax beingsimilar to SASOLWAX® C80 but having had removed by distillation thelowest 20 percent molecular weight fraction, M_(p)=631, M_(n)=627,M_(w)=643, MWD=1.03 as measured by HT-GPC; Fischer-Tropsch wax (FT-E)obtained from Sasol Wax Americas, Inc., said wax being similar toSASOLWAX® C80 but having had removed by distillation the lowest 30percent molecular weight fraction, M_(p)=637, M_(n)=630, M_(w)=646,MWD=1.03 as measured by HT-GPC; a branched triamide of the formula

wherein p, q, and r each have an average value of about 35, prepared asdescribed in Example II of U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,930, the disclosure ofwhich is totally incorporated herein by reference; stearyl stearamidewax (KEMAMIDE® S-180, obtained from Crompton Corporation, Greenwich,Conn.); KE-100 Resin (triglycerides of hydrogenated abietic (rosin)acid, obtained from Arakawa Chemical Industries (USA) Inc., Chicago,Ill.); a urethane resin that was the adduct of three equivalents ofstearyl isocyanate and a glycerol-based alcohol, prepared as describedin Example 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,453, the disclosure of which istotally incorporated herein by reference; NAUGUARD® 445 antioxidant(obtained from Uniroyal Chemical Co., Middlebury, Conn.); a cyancolorant as disclosed in Examples V through XI of U.S. Pat. No.6,472,523, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein byreference; and dodecyl benzene sulfuric acid (DDBSA, Bio-soft S-100,obtained from Stepan Company, Elwood, Ill.). The amounts in percent byweight of the ink of each ingredient are listed in the table below foreach ink: Ink 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 PE 500 50.20 0 0 0 0 0 0 PE-C 0 50.00 51.370 0 0 0 FT-B 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 FT-C 0 0 0 0 55.6 0 0 FT-D 0 0 0 0 0 56.66 0FT-E 0 0 0 0 0 0 56.66 triamide 13.90 13.95 15.34 13.95 16.81 15.5 15.5S-180 15.14 15.14 14.75 15.14 14.56 14.7 14.7 KE-100 12.30 12.42 13.8912.42 8.4 8.5 8.5 urethane wax 4.42 4.42 0.93 4.42 0.9 0.91 0.91 DDBSA0.32 0.35 0 0.35 0 0 0 N-445 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.17 cyancolorant 3.55 3.55 3.55 3.55 3.56 3.56 3.56Ink 1 is provided for comparative purposes.

Ink Characteristics

Various characteristics of the inks were measured by a Rheometricscone-plate viscometer and are indicated in the table below. Viscosity(η, centipoise) was measured at 110° C. The spectral strength wasdetermined using a spectrophotographic procedure based on themeasurement of the ink in solution by dissolving the ink in toluene forthe cyan and yellow inks and n-butanol for the magenta inks andmeasuring the absorbance using a Perkin Elmer Lambda 2S UV/VISspectrophotometer. Glass transition temperature (T_(g)) was measured byDynamic Mechanic Analysis using a Rheometrics Solid Analyzer (RSA II).Peak melting point (MP) and peak freezing point (FP) were measured bydifferential scanning calorimetry (DSC) using a DUPONT 2100 calorimeter.Ink 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 η 10.72 10.63 10.73 11.03 10.75 10.62 10.69 SS 45104503 4538 4517 4547 4582 4596 T_(g) 11.51 12.88 28.45, −16.83 9.31,−17.97 −16.5, 5.9 −17.8, 12.5 −16.6, −11.5 MP 81.92 80.81 80.99 81.8583.03 83.58 83.99 FP 69.6, 74.5 69.19 71.95 69.1 73.3, 76.4 73.8, 76.973.9, 77.6

As the data indicate, the peak melting points of these inks are about80° C. and the viscosities of most of them are close to about 10.6 at110° C., indicating that they are suitable for jetting at temperaturesof from about 105 to about 115° C. The spectral strengths confirm gooddissolution of the cyan colorants. In addition, the inks prepared fromthe polyethylene waxes having about 15 percent of the lower molecularweight fraction and about 15 percent of the upper molecular weightfraction removed therefrom and ink 4 prepared from Fischer-Tropsch waxC80 exhibited desirably low freezing points, enabling setting printerstandby temperatures at lower settings and thus enabling low energyconsumption. The reduced freezing point of these inks is believed to beattributable to the removal of the upper molecular weight fraction ofthe polyethylene wax. The cohesive failure temperature, intermediatetransfer setpoint temperature, minimum jetting temperature, and minimumstandby temperature for inks 1 and 2 in a XEROX® PHASER® 8400 printerwere as indicated in the table below. For comparative purposes, thesecharacteristics were also measured for the commercial cyan inks suppliedfor a XEROX® PHASER® 8400 printer and for a XEROX® PHASER® 360 printer,and are also indicated in the table below. Intermediate CohesiveTransfer Minimum Minimum Failure Temp. Member Jetting Temp. Standby Ink(° C.) Temp. (° C.) (° C.) Temp. (° C.) 8400 73 62-64 130 105 360 6350-57 130 105 1 55 45 110  92-95 2 65 60 110  88-90 4 65 54 114 — 5 7260-62 115 — 6 72 60-62 114 — 7 72 60-62 115 —— = not measuredAs the data indicate, Inks 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 exhibit both a desirablyhigh cohesive failure temperature of at least about 56° C. or higher anda desirably low jetting temperature of about 125° C. or lower. Ink 2also exhibits a desirably low minimum standby temperature. While theminimum standby temperature was not measured for inks 4, 5, 6, and 7, itis believed that these inks will also have desirably low minimum standbytemperatures.

Standby Temperatures

Inks 1 and 2 as well as the commercial cyan ink supplied for a XEROX®PHASER® 8400 printer were evaluated for minimum standby temperature. Theinks were each incorporated into a XEROX® PHASER® 8400 printer, afterwhich the printer was placed in power saver mode for periods ofovernight and over a weekend. Thereafter, prints were generated and thepercentage of failed jets was determined from the prints thus generatedat various power saver temperatures. The results were as follows: %Failed Jets After Recovery from Given Power Saver Temp. Standby 8400 inkInk 1 Ink 2 Ink 1 Ink 2 temp. (° C.) (overnight) (overnight) (overnight)(weekend) (weekend) 85 100 >6 28 >9 28 87 100 >6 3 >9 6 88 100 >6 0 >9 090 100 6 0 9 0 92 100 0 0 2 0 95 100 0 0 0 0 100 36 0 0 0 0 104 1 0 0 00 105 0 0 0 0 0 110 0 0 0 0 0 115 0 0 0 0 0From this data, one can conclude that the minimum standby temperaturefor the 8400 ink is about 104° C., for Ink 1 is about 92° C., and forInk 2 is about 88° C.

Other embodiments and modifications of the present invention may occurto those of ordinary skill in the art subsequent to a review of theinformation presented herein; these embodiments and modifications, aswell as equivalents thereof, are also included within the scope of thisinvention.

The recited order of processing elements or sequences, or the use ofnumbers, letters, or other designations therefor, is not intended tolimit a claimed process to any order except as specified in the claimitself.

1. A phase change ink composition comprising an ink carrier: and acolorant, said ink being suitable for use in an indirect printingprocess wherein the ink is jetted from a printhead onto a heatedintermediate transfer member and subsequently transferred from theintermediate transfer member to a final recording substrate, wherein:(a) the ink can be jetted from the printhead onto the intermediatetransfer member when the ink is maintained at a temperature of about125° C. or lower; (b) the ink can be jetted without purging from aprinter maintained at a standby temperature of about 100° C. or lower;and (c) the ink has a cohesive failure temperature of at least about 56°C.
 2. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the ink can be jetted from theprinthead onto the intermediate transfer member when the ink ismaintained at a temperature of about 120° C. or lower.
 3. An inkaccording to claim 1 wherein the ink can be jetted from the printheadonto the intermediate transfer member when the ink is maintained at atemperature of about 115° C. or lower.
 4. An ink according to claim 1wherein the ink can be jetted from the printhead onto the intermediatetransfer member when the ink is maintained at a temperature of about113° C. or lower.
 5. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the ink can bejetted without purging from a printer maintained at a standbytemperature of about 95° C. or lower.
 6. An ink according to claim 1wherein the ink can be jetted without purging from a printer maintainedat a standby temperature of about 90° C. or lower.
 7. An ink accordingto claim 1 wherein the ink has a cohesive failure temperature of atleast about 60° C.
 8. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the ink has acohesive failure temperature of at least about 65° C.
 9. An inkaccording to claim 1 wherein the ink has a peak melting point of nohigher than about 160° C.
 10. An ink according to claim 1 wherein theink has a peak melting point of no higher than about 140° C.
 11. An inkaccording to claim 1 wherein the ink has a peak melting point of nohigher than about 100° C.
 12. An ink according to claim 1 wherein theink has an onset melting point of no lower than about 50° C.
 13. An inkaccording to claim 1 wherein the ink has an onset melting point of nolower than about 52° C.
 14. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the inkhas an onset melting point of no lower than about 55° C.
 15. An inkaccording to claim 1 wherein the ink has a melt viscosity at the jettingtemperature of no more than about 30 centipoise.
 16. An ink according toclaim 1 wherein the ink has a melt viscosity at the jetting temperatureof no more than about 20 centipoise.
 17. An ink according to claim 1wherein the ink has a melt viscosity at the jetting temperature of nomore than about 15 centipoise.
 18. An ink according to claim 1 whereinthe ink has a viscosity of from about 7 to about 15 centipoise at atemperature of about 110° C.
 19. An ink according to claim 1 wherein theink has a viscosity of from about 7 to about 15 centipoise at atemperature of about 115° C.
 20. An ink according to claim 1 wherein theink has a viscosity of from about 7 to about 15 centipoise at atemperature of about 120° C.
 21. An ink according to claim 1 wherein theink carrier comprises (i) a branched triamide and (ii) a polyethylenewax.
 22. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the ink carrier comprises(i) a branched triamide and (ii) a Fischer-Tropsch wax.
 23. A phasechange ink composition comprising an ink carrier and a colorant, saidink being suitable for use in an indirect printing process wherein theink is jetted from a printhead onto a heated intermediate transfermember and subsequently transferred from the intermediate transfermember to a final recording substrate, wherein: (a) the ink can bejetted from the printhead onto the intermediate transfer member when theink is maintained at a temperature of about 120° C. or lower; (b) theink can be jetted without purging from a printer maintained at a standbytemperature of about 95° C. or lower; and (c) the ink has a cohesivefailure temperature of at least about 60° C.
 24. A phase change inkcomposition comprising an ink carrier and a colorant, said ink beingsuitable for use in an indirect printing process wherein the ink isjetted from a printhead onto a heated intermediate transfer member andsubsequently transferred from the intermediate transfer member to afinal recording substrate, wherein: (a) the ink can be jetted from theprinthead onto the intermediate transfer member when the ink ismaintained at a temperature of about 115° C. or lower; (b) the ink canbe jetted without purging from a printer maintained at a standbytemperature of about 90° C. or lower; and (c) the ink has a cohesivefailure temperature of at least about 65° C.
 25. An ink according toclaim 1 wherein the ink can meet requirements (a) and (b) with no morethan about 2 percent failed jets.
 26. An ink according to claim 1wherein the ink can meet requirements (a) and (b) with no more thanabout 1 percent failed jets.
 27. An ink according to claim 1 wherein theink can meet requirements (a) and (b) with no more than about 0.5percent failed jets.
 28. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the ink canmeet requirements (a) and (b) with no more than about 0.25 percentfailed jets.